Iran Reopens Debate Over Nuclear Weapons Policy as Regional Tensions Escalate

Tehran signals growing divisions over its long-standing religious ban on nuclear weapons following attacks by the United States and Israel.

Iran’s long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons is facing renewed scrutiny, with senior political and religious figures increasingly questioning whether the country’s existing policy remains appropriate amid escalating regional tensions.

The debate follows comments from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, who acknowledged on Monday that reconsidering the country’s nuclear doctrine had become a serious issue.

Iran’s previous position was strongly associated with a religious ruling, or fatwa, issued by former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2003. The ruling prohibited the development and use of nuclear weapons, presenting them as incompatible with Islamic principles.

However, Baghaei suggested that the circumstances surrounding that position had changed significantly.

He pointed out that the former leader who established the prohibition had himself been assassinated, arguing that the attacks against Iran had introduced a new dimension to the country’s security calculations.

Despite acknowledging the debate, Baghaei maintained that Tehran’s nuclear programme remained peaceful. He also reiterated Iran’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which the country continues to recognise its international obligations.

Iran’s nuclear policy faces growing pressure

The discussion comes after US and Israeli military strikes against Iranian targets in February, which reportedly killed several senior figures within the country’s leadership.

For years, Tehran had used Khamenei’s religious ruling to defend its position against accusations that it intended to develop nuclear weapons. His frequently repeated position was that countries should have access to peaceful nuclear energy without pursuing nuclear armament.

That position, however, is now being challenged by influential voices within Iran.

Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, Tehran’s interim Friday prayer leader, recently called for a reassessment of the country’s nuclear policy. During a sermon, he described the acquisition of nuclear weapons as a matter of national interest.

He also claimed that public opinion was increasingly supportive of changing the existing doctrine, citing an alleged survey suggesting that 70 per cent of Iranians favoured such a move. No supporting evidence for that figure was provided in the reported remarks.

Akbari urged nuclear experts to prepare recommendations for Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran’s supreme leader, so that the country’s leadership could consider the issue.

Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Naderi has also supported the development of nuclear weapons. He argued that the security environment had changed since the original religious ruling was issued.

According to Naderi, reconsidering the policy should not be interpreted as rejecting the former supreme leader’s position. Instead, he argued that the circumstances facing Iran today were fundamentally different from those of the past.

Security officials acknowledge the debate

The growing calls for a change in policy have also reached Iran’s national security establishment.

Maj Gen Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, acknowledged that the issue was being discussed but stressed that no official decision had been made.

He questioned whether Iran should continue following its existing nuclear doctrine if another war were to break out, reflecting concerns within the country’s security establishment about the consequences of remaining without a nuclear deterrent.

Rezaei also discussed diplomatic contacts with Washington, revealing that he had received a letter from US Vice-President JD Vance. Although he had not yet responded, he described the tone of the communication as having changed considerably.

Nevertheless, Tehran continues to link progress towards negotiations with its demands concerning the US naval blockade and broader security arrangements.

Baghaei maintained that Iran would not agree to a settlement or guarantee the reopening and security of the Strait of Hormuz unless Washington ended its blockade and addressed Tehran’s stated conditions.

He also referred to a seven-point Iranian proposal, which he said could be implemented within two days.

Not all Iranian voices support nuclear weapons

Despite the growing political pressure to reconsider the country’s position, some analysts have warned against making major strategic decisions in response to military confrontation.

Political analyst Qader Bastani described the calls for nuclear armament as an emotional reaction that could ultimately damage Iran’s international position.

He argued that presenting Iran as an emerging nuclear threat could strengthen the case for further international pressure or military action against the country.

Rather than pursuing nuclear weapons, Bastani suggested that Tehran should focus on demonstrating compliance with international agreements, providing verifiable assurances and exploring regional cooperation through a proposed nuclear consortium.

Another analyst, Kiomars Ashtarian, highlighted the strategic calculations behind the debate.

He argued that nuclear weapons could offer Iran a form of deterrence against nuclear attacks, but warned that pursuing such a capability could also trigger additional sanctions and create diplomatic difficulties with countries including China and Russia.

Nuclear tensions raise wider international concerns

The discussion has gained further attention amid increasingly alarming statements about the possibility of another confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.

American broadcaster Tucker Carlson recently raised concerns about the possibility of a US nuclear strike against Iran, identifying the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility as a potential target. His remarks have circulated widely, although the claim of an imminent nuclear attack has not been independently established.

For Tehran, the central question is increasingly whether its existing nuclear restrictions can continue to provide sufficient security in a region marked by military confrontation and deep political divisions.

However, changing the country’s nuclear doctrine would carry consequences far beyond Iran’s borders. It could intensify regional tensions, complicate diplomatic negotiations and create additional pressure on the international non-proliferation system.

For now, Iran has not formally abandoned its longstanding prohibition on nuclear weapons. The increasingly public debate nevertheless signals a significant challenge to a policy that has shaped the country’s official nuclear position for more than two decades.

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